Update: Gabon coup foiled, rebel soldiers arrested

The government of Gabon has declared that it was in control after an attempted coup by army rebels on Monday and that it had arrested most of those involved.

“Calm has returned, the situation is under control,” government spokesman Guy-Bertrand Mapangou told AFP.

Only hours earlier, soldiers burst into the national radio station and called on the people to “rise up,” an apparent bid to oust ailing President Ali Bongo, who is out of the country. Of the five who did this, according to Mapangou, “four have been arrested and one is on the run.”